Saddle structure

ABSTRACT

A saddle construction for a bicycle includes a seat pillar having a saddle support portion and a saddle adjustably mounted on the saddle support portion. A first height adjustment device extends between the saddle and the saddle support portion and is located in a forward region of the saddle for adjusting the height of the forward region of the saddle relative to the saddle support portion. A second height adjustment device also extends between the saddle and the saddle support portion and is located in a rearward region of the saddle for adjusting the height of the rearward region of the saddle. The first and second height adjustment devices operate independently of each other to separately adjust the height at the forward and rearward regions of the saddle.

The invention relates to a saddle structure for bicycle saddles, inparticular sport saddles, comprising a fastening part capable of beingadjusted relative to a seat pillar.

With bicycle saddle structures, it is common to connect the same withthe seat pillar in a manner so as to be pivotable about a pivot axisextending transverse to the seat pillar. Usually, toothed discs are usedas fastening parts, which allow for the stepwise adjustment of theinclination of the saddle relative to the seat pillar. Furthermore,common saddle fastenings allow for height adjustments relative to theseat pillar, wherein the fastening part usually is connected with a tubeportion inserted in the seat pillar and fixed within the seat pillar ina positive and force-transmitting manner by clamping. By such a knownconfiguration of the fastening part, adjustment in terms of bothinclination and height is basically feasible. Yet, such an adjustment,as a rule, requires tools and allows for a limited adjustability only,the comfort of the saddle, thus, being not always ensured.

The invention aims at providing a saddle structure comprising afastening part which enables the particularly easy and simple regulationand fine adjustment of saddle settings. In addition, the invention aimsat providing more freedom for any intended adjustment in order tothereby obtain a more precise fine adjustment and a higher comfort. Tosolve this object, the configuration according to the inventionessentially consists in that the saddle structure comprises at least twoseparate means for adjusting the height in the front and rear regions ofthe saddle. By at least two separate means being provided for adjustingthe height in the front and rear regions of the saddle, concertedadaptation may be obtained in a particularly simple manner and, as arule, substantially more quickly. In principle, one of these two meansfor adjusting the height might be the known pivotability of the saddle.Such a pivotability, however, only provides for the simultaneous liftingor lowering in a front or rear region and lowering and lifting,respectively, in the respective opposite region. It is only theadditional separate means provided for adjusting the height on therespective opposite side, that allows for fine adjustment substantiallyraising the comfort. In a particularly simple manner, theheight-adjustable means may be designed as supports or bolts includingspring and/or dampening elements, wherein such supports or bolts areeach arranged in the front and rear regions of the saddle in order toensure appropriate fine adjustment.

In order to further improve the precise adjustment required for theoptimum comfort, the configuration advantageously is devised such thatthe fastening part capable of being adjusted relative to the seat pillaris designed as a slide displaceable transverse to the axis of the seatpillar in the longitudinal direction of the saddle. By such anadditional displacement relative to the saddle, the optimum positionrelative to the handlebar may be adjusted and, in such an optimumposition, the inclination of the saddle may be set with a view toobtaining the best comfort. With the hitherto known adjustment means,the subjective distance relative to the handlebar was adjusted at thesame time by appropriately tilting the saddle about an axis extendingtransverse to the axis of the seat pillar, which, of course, could notsimultaneously result in an improved comfort of the saddle. It is onlyby the separation of the two functions of adjustment relative to thehandlebar as well as adjustment of the saddle in the correct positionrelative to the handlebar, that a substantial enhancement of the comfortof the saddle has become feasible.

Advantageously, the configuration according to the invention is devisedsuch that the height-adjustable supports are designed as screw spindles,thereby rendering adjustment particularly quick and simple. In order tobe able to apply also large adjustment forces quickly and safely withoutresorting to the aid of tools, the configuration advantageously isdevised such that the height-adjustable supports are adjustable viaeccentric discs or wedge surfaces and are secured in their respectivelyadjusted positions. In particular, when using rotatable wedge surfaces,adjustment may be effected in a quick and reliable manner by simplypivoting a lever without requiring tools therefor.

For the correct adjustment of the saddle relative to the handlebar of abicycle, the configuration advantageously is devised such that the slideis displaceable in a linear guide, such as, e.g., a dovetail guide, inthe longitudinal direction of the saddle. By means of such a slide evenlarge forces can be taken up safely, simple adjustment as well as simpleblocking of the respectively selected position being feasible by simplemeans. Advantageously, the configuration in this respect is devised suchthat the supports pass through the slide and that the slide is securedin its displacement position by means of the eccentric discs or wedgesurfaces securing the adjustment position of the supports.

In order to safely guide such a slide and safely take up the respectiveeccentrical forces, the configuration advantageously is devised suchthat the seat pillar in the region of the fastening of the saddlestructure comprises a supporting surface or guide extending in thelongitudinal direction of the saddle. A particularly simple and, at thesame time, comfort-enhancing resilient configuration of such asupporting surface in a simple manner may be devised such. that thesupporting surface of the seat pillar extending in the longitudinaldirection of the saddle is designed as a bent tube end of the seatpillar, forming a resilient region.

The slide principally may be of any desired form and of any designdepending on the configuration of the saddle. When providing a saddlestructure, steel bar sections are usually employed for the structure andin such cases the configuration advantageously is devised such that theslide is designed as a saddle stretcher formed by bars or as part of asaddle frame and that the bars are embraced by brackets connected withthe seat pillar and adapted to fix the displacement position. Such aslide configuration formed by bars and overlapped by brackets, ifappropriately designed, may again result in a defined resilience andhence in an improved comfort.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by wayof exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing.Therein,

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned schematic side view of a firstconfiguration of the saddle structure according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a modified configuration including a resilient seat pillar,

FIG. 3 is a modified configuration using a saddle structure in anillustration analogous to FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned enlarged representation,

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the fastening of theheight-adjustment bolt as well as the linear guide along section V--V ofFIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a modified configuration of the means for adjusting the heightof the saddle.

In FIG. 1, 1 serves to denote a seat pillar which passes over into aplate-shaped support 2 for a linear guide. The linear guide isschematically indicated by 3 and formed by a slide guided in a groove.The saddle skin 4 in the configuration according to FIG. 1 is realizedas a self-supporting saddle skin and supported on the slide 6 viadamping elements 5. Height adjustment is effected via adjustingelements, such as, for instance nuts, engaging at the supports 7, whichare designed as screw bolts, no detailed configuration of the adjustingelements being apparent from the illustration according to FIG. 1.

In the configuration according to FIG. 2, a saddle as depicted in FIG. 1is used, yet with the supporting surface 2 for the linear guide beingformed by a bent end region of the seat pillar 1.

In the configuration according to FIG. 3, a saddle with a saddle frame 8is employed, which saddle frame is connected with the supporting bolts 7and the damping elements 5. The saddle skin is denoted by 9.

Also there, a linear guide 3 is again provided on the upper end of theseat pillar 1, wherein the linear guide may be realized either on thesupporting surface 2 on the upper end of the seat pillar 1 or in theform of brackets overlapping parts of the saddle frame 8.

The design of the means for fixing the respective height position ordisplacement position of the saddle relative to the seat pillar areillustrated in more detail in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. In FIG. 4 an eccentriccomprising an eccentric disc 10 is provided for fixing theheight-adjustable bolt 7. The axis of the eccentric is denoted by 11. Bypivoting the eccentric, the respective height position of the saddleskin 4 may be adjusted relative to the bearing surface 2. The linearguide in this case is designed as a groove 12 extending in thelongitudinal direction of the bearing surface 2 and in which a slide isdisplaceable. The slide is again denoted by 6. The slide may be movedwith the eccentric being completely opened, positive andforce-transmitting blocking against further displacement of the slidebeing feasible simultaneously with the adjustment of the desired heightposition.

The function of the eccentric is explained in even more detail in FIG.5, from which it is apparent that the slide 6 has a substantiallytrapezoidal contour and the linear guide 3 is designed as adove-tail-shaped groove. As for the rest, the reference numerals of thepreceding Figures have been retained.

In the configuration according to FIG. 6, height adjustment is effectedby a wedge surface of a disc 13 which may be pivoted about an axis 14 bymeans of a pivoting lever 15. The height-adjustable bolt 7 is broughtinto the respectively desired position as a function of the pivotedposition of the disc 13 having the wedge surface, adjustment in thiscase being feasible in a particularly quick and simple manner.

With all of the preferred configurations illustrated in the drawing, twoseparate height-adjustment means are each arranged in the front and rearregions of the saddle. With the saddle being simultaneously displaceablein the longitudinal direction of the bicycle, such a separatearrangement of means for adjusting the height position in the front andrear regions of the saddle allows for the precise adaptation desired inany position of the saddle relative to the seat pillar and relative to ahandlebar, respectively.

I claim:
 1. A saddle construction for a bicycle comprising a seat pillarincluding a saddle support portion;a saddle adjustably mounted on saidsaddle support portion; a first height adjustment device extendingbetween said saddle and said saddle support portion and located in aforward region of said saddle for adjusting the height of said forwardregion of said saddle relative to said saddle support portion; and asecond height adjustment device extending between said saddle and saidsaddle support portion and located in a rearward region of said saddlefor adjusting the height of said rearward region of said saddle; whereinsaid first and second height adjustment devices operate independently ofeach other to selectively either simultaneously or separately adjust theheight at the forward and rearward regions of the saddle wherein saidfirst and second height adjustment devices each include a verticallyextending bolt.
 2. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein saidsaddle support portion includes a slide movable in forward and rearwarddirections.
 3. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein said saddle issupported above said saddle support portion by damping elementsassociated with each of said first and second height adjustment devices,respectively.
 4. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein each of saidfirst and second height adjustment devices is actuated by one or moreeccentric discs.
 5. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid first and second height adjustment devices is actuated by a wedge.6. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein said saddle supportportion extends in a longitudinal direction of said saddle.
 7. Thesaddle construction of claim 1 wherein said saddle support portioncomprises an integral and resilient, bent portion of said seat pillar.8. The saddle construction of claim 1 wherein said saddle includes aframe and wherein said first and second height adjustment devices areconnected to said frame.
 9. A saddle construction for a bicyclecomprising a seat pillar including a saddle support portion;a saddleadjustably mounted on said saddle support portion; a first heightadjustment device extending between said saddle and said saddle supportportion and located in a forward region of said saddle for adjusting theheight of said forward region of said saddle relative to said saddlesupport portion; and a second height adjustment device extending betweensaid saddle and said saddle support portion and located in a rearwardregion of said saddle for adjusting the height of said rearward regionof said saddle; wherein said first and second height adjustment devicesoperate independently of each other to separately adjust the height atthe forward and rearward regions of the saddle, and wherein said saddlesupport portion includes a slide movable in forward and rearwarddirections within a groove formed in said saddle support portion. 10.The saddle construction of claim 9 wherein said slide and said groovehave a dovetail configuration.
 11. The saddle construction of claim 9wherein each of said first and second height adjustment devices eachinclude means for simultaneously adjusting the height of said saddle andfor locking said slide within said groove.
 12. A saddle construction fora bicycle comprising a seat pillar including a saddle support portion;asaddle adjustably mounted on said saddle support portion; a first heightadjustment device extending between said saddle and said saddle supportportion and located in a forward region of said saddle for adjusting theheight of said forward region of said saddle relative to said saddlesupport portion; and a second height adjustment device extending betweensaid saddle and said saddle support portion and located in a rearwardregion of said saddle for adjusting the height of said rearward regionof said saddle; wherein said first and second height adjustment devicesoperate independently of each other to separately adjust the height atthe forward and rearward regions of the saddle said first and secondheight adjustment devices each include a vertically extending bolt, andfurther wherein the saddle and saddle support portion are not pivotallyconnected anywhere between the first and second height adjustmentdevices.